The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-29
,>LASSOING A WILD BUFFALO.
A Noble Chief of the Prairie Prefers
Death to Captivity and Chains.
Three Cowboys Against Brown Bnll-In
the Last Extremity the Gallant Old
Bison Breaks His Neck.

Philadelphia Times. Saturday.
The superb bison at the Geological Gardens
known as John L. Sullivan broke his neck yes
terday. He met his death after an heroic battle
for freedom. The battle-ground was in the Zoo,
and thousand men. women and children paid
to see the buffalo chase, while twice that num-
!, Der stood on the elevated roadbed of the Penn
J sylvania Railroad which skirts the garden. The
army of people were thrilled by the brave and
spirited defense Sullivan made against the COM
bined efforts of three stalwart cowboys, three
strong ponies, three lariats and big thick rope
Sullivan was only conquered by death, after he
had gored pony broken several lariats and
made the cowboys weary. While wintering on
Staten Island the Wild West Show lost almost
dozen buffalos. and as spring approached and
the time for the departure of Buffalo Bills aggre-
CATION for England grew nearer Co lionel Cody be-
gan to look about the country for bisons. When
he heard that Sullivan and Old Pete, the big bulls
of the Geological Garden. in this city. could be
Bought he closed bargain at once, the purchase
price being several hundred dollars.
The show sails on Thursday next for London.
and Buck Taylor Billy Bullock and Joe Es-
quire the well-known cowboys. with three big
York to lasso the buffaoes. Shortly after II
O'clock the cowboys succeeded in conquering
"Old" Pete, and he was led with little difficulty
q between two horses to the stocKya ard of the
Pennsylvania railroad in West Philadelphia.
Sullivan, big, vicious bull whose pugna-
cious nature led TO his sale by the society, was
to be tackled later on. Sullivan, proud and
spirited animal, had made bad record during
she year. He thrice had put his head through
three ply fence, broken down gates, almost
killed Rocks a bull much smaller than Sulli-
van, and had periodically knocked silly big, ro
bust Domnck Mccartney, ambitious bison
and former champion of the buffalo yard.
The reservation of the bisons covers three acres.
1t Is square in shape, has a shed in the southern
corner, and tree surrounded with firm board
box stands near each of the four corners of the
yard. 1t was well known that there was to be
buffalo hunt at the Zoo, and the people began
to gather at noon inside the garden and the
prominent point in the neighborhood of the
buffalo yard. Twelve impecunious boys were
on a slim tree near the fence. Several branches
broke and six Of the lads came down in a heap
before they expected. There were numerous
wrestling matches between youngsters for
shoice perches the other trees, and con-
etant and selfish crush among the old aud
young who crowded the railroad embankment
TIE mob would make break every time
]. train was heard, and then the fellows in the
= rear would have struggle for positions with
the curious at the front The walk in front
of the yard was packed, many of the visitors
being fashionably dressed women. A hundred
or more boys had paid to the fun. They
were unable to look over the bonnets of the
women or through the bodies of the
Some crawled to prominence through the legs
of the men, but big majority of the young
sters rsked the danger of falling among the
wolves and foxes and climbed on the top of
she pens and clambered up other neighborng
cages.
1t was just o'clock when the three cowboys,
mounted jumped into the yard at the northwest
corner. They each carried lariat. Buck Tay-
Las nd hIEfrc ivJ ratfx hay y
white marks. There we're scores of dime novel
readers there. and they saluted the King of the
Cowboys in picturesque sentences. Taylor
wore a maroon coiored shirt. embroidered cor
duroy trousers, top boots and white sombrero
A rich red and osck silk handkerchief, which
: his girl had given MIN, was around his neck and
big diamond glittered on his black silk necktie
Billy Bullock and Joe Esguirel, who less
richly dressed, used the peculiar costume of the
cowboys. Bullock rode ''One of Kind" and
.'Streaks' under Esquirel The herd
was gathered under the shed, discussing the alb
Auction of Old Pete, when Buck Taylor threw
his moose at Sulhvars head. 1t did not get
there. hat is started the battle Sullivan ana
mis- relations dashed out from the shed, followed
by the horsemen. Taylor led again. but missed
him. and Sullivan lodged the lariats of Bullock
and Esquirel Sullivan was mad and, with
''McCafrcy,n Rock and the other bisons on his
heels. dashed around the yard Bullock put his
moose over the horns of the swift-footed beast
hut Sullivan quickly shook 1T off and turned
toward .'One of Kind" Bullock got out of the
way, and then Iaylor again headed Tor sullivan.
The moose shot through the air, and, with u
spontaneous shout from the crowd Sullivan
came stand with such abruptness as TO al
most lift Taylor off his horse. While the peo-
pie were cheering Sullivan made dash across
the yard and swung around the tree in the north
west corner. The Infatuated bull and the com
bination ct the other end Of the line played q
desperate game of see saw. The other horse
men were hurrying to the assistance of Taylor
when the maddened Sullivan made fierce pitch
The line broke and in instant he rushed al
Chieftaln aad his rider. Taylor made an attem p
TO turn his horse, when the bull swept down and
with a wild toss of his head ripped open the
right hauuch of Chieftain with his sharp curved
horn. The bull made another plunge, but the
crowd saw the blood streaming from Chieftair
and gave a cry of alarm in time for Taylor t,
pull his horse away from the bull In a SECOND
n gate opened and Taylor and his hors
dashed ahead of Sullivan and escaped from thu
bull. Billy Bullock and his partner made dasl
for Sullivan, and he was about to plant his horn
into "Ors OF Kind when the cowboys wer,
told to come out of the yard, an,
Sullivan was left still champion o
the Zoo DIR. Huidekoper. dean o
the veterinary school at the university il
the crowd, and he soon by the side of Buc
Iaylor's horse. The horn had o. ned an AFTER
and torn muscles and flesh protruded from tn
wound which sent out stream Of blood. DI
Hnidekoper Immediately stuffed hardkerchie
into the wound, and then the horse WAS led
the stable, where the Doctor filed the woun
with oakum and bad it bathed with cold water
Sullivan had to be captured. and Buck Taylo
had mounted "Streaks" TO return to the attach
when Agent O'Donnell. of the Society to Pr
vent Cruelty to Animals, stopped him. Ager
ODonnel had Agents Fox and Bowes with hin
y, They said courteously but earnestly, that the
would not allow the other horses to return to I'll
yard. Sullivan was a mad beast of wonderft
noxar and they helieve3 that he wonld kill I'll